A REMARKABLE CHANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21414, 11 February 1933, Page 4 (Supplement)

A REMARKABLE CHANCE

By MARGARET HARVEY, 14 Dmrt Avenue, Mtr. Albert. (Aged 16 years). - Original.

Probably all those-who have visited Auckland's beautiful War Memorial Museum, will remember having seen-in one of the cases, the tall figure of a moa. This bird, and its ancestors, has been the subject of nymy heated discussions between modern scientists, but the true reason why moas are never sees nowadays and never will be seen here-' after, is this. Long before Kupe reached Aotearoa from Hawaiki, there were many birds exceeding 6ft. in height in the North Island. As they had huge wings so that they could fly comparatively long distances, and also had strong sinewy legs, so that they could run swiftly and easily, they were much more powerful than any other creature of the bush. The inhabitants of New Zealand, at this time were extremely weak people, who were easily overcome by the Polynesians in later centuries. Although they had a few primitive dwellings, and grew some kind of vegetables which they cooked and ate, they relied principally upon what Nature gave their land for food. One summer, the sun shone fiercely for over a month, scorching the vegetation, which in spring had been so delightfully green. As this was a most unusual occnrrence, the natives had not prepared lor a drought, which would be a very serious menace to their food supply. In one of the villages near the Waitsmata two or three natives who showed more intelligence than their fellows care-

fully planted some roots, and watered them with brine which they carried from the harbour. A few mornings after tbi» was done, one of the villagers was horrified to find the little plot trampled upon, and entirely ruined. They did not know who the unknown malefactor could be, so they quickly cleared a space and planted their remaining roots. These, they decided to guard carefully. The following evening* when uncanny noises were heard in the bush, the superstitious sentries became thoroughly terrified, and fled. When one of them looked back, he saw about seven tall birds, running unconcernedly over the carefully-prepared ground, which was being torn up at irregular intervals. As starvation was facing the entire tribe, the next day most of the villagers assembled to pray that their gods migM deliver them from the fearsome creatures which were ravaging their district. Two moas happened to be in sight of "I®. gathering, and as the people chanted '•' !ieir prayers, they beheld the two birds gradu ally decrease in .size, so that they ® 3< ? n became not more than about 2ft. hig Legend has it that at_ precisely the same time, -every moa in New Zealand dimin* ished in height.' . • The small birds had to live chiefly unfrequented spots in the bush,.where o wrath of the gods could not reach t 0 again. For that reason, they seldom visited the open spaces where they couia use their wings, so, very soon, they we deprived of the power 1 of flight, an jj length, did not have wings at all- . birds, whom the natives saw only on veiy rare occasions, came to be known kiwis; but few (.people connect the tinct moa with the very valuable mats some Miaori chieftains possess to- y*